Whatcha Think??

[Jennifer and Jack]

My mom lives in the adult version of Disney World... They have all kinds of clubs, She belongs to the dog lovers club. Tonight they had a Doggie Dentist come in and speak...  This women ONLY does cat and dog's teeth. They do cleaning, root canal and other services.

I have always used Petzlife and Jack to date has always had since then mild tarter build up.. We are coming up on his fourth birthday in March. 

This Dentist states that even if you don't see any visible tarter that doesn't mean that your dog is free from disease. Jack does have stink breath at times ( sorry Jack) She said dogs need a full exam. She does a full set of x rays (just like humans get) to make sure nothing is growing in the mouth.  Then she puts them to sleep and does a full exam and cleaning. She will fill cavities and do root canals if the owners want.

She said just brushing your dogs teeth alone does not get up under the gums where the bacteria is hiding and it can cause all kinds of disease from kidney, liver and heart. Also  she said dogs are very stolic (she doesn't know Jack) and they can be walking around with a broken tooth and root exposed and we would never know.

Needless to say she is against bones and chewing on hard surfaces... 

So her fee is almost $400.00 for full x rays, cleaning and lab work to be done in advance.  I just logged on to Pet Plan to see if our insurance covers it.. It looks like it does from what I can tell... 

Points of interest.. his insurance says that if a vet recommends a dental procedure and you don't do it, they are not responsible for any disease that occurs.. To date Jack has not been officially recommended to have teeth cleaning, but Molly has.

So if Jack were to get sick and it was linked somehow to his teeth... His insurance is null and void.

I really hate, especially given he is adrenal insufficient to be put under. He doesn't have any signs of disease that I can see but what do I know????  

I am torn.... I know his insurance will cover the bulk of it but do you think she is just trying to drum up business??? I think she has some valid points but ??

Also as a side note., as I was going through Pet Plan exclusions do you know if your dog gets LEPTO and you have not kept up with vaccinations, they don't have to pay for any care related to the disease or any of the other diseases you CAN but are not required to get shots for as well.

I never noticed that before????

Why can't I ever make a rational decision when it comes to Jack ever? I swear I am educated. I swear I am not an air head but when it comes to him I just love him so much.

Do you all go to regular dog dentists? Do you let you dog get put to sleep? She said that if you don't let the dog go to sleep they can't do proper exams. 

Thanks in advance.

Signed

Crazy, Paranoid Doodle Mom.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have one doodle, Calla, who has had lots of tartar. I do use PetzLife. I hope my dogs teeth and gums will do well enough to never need anesthesia for cleaning. I would not do either the x-rays or the cleaning unless it was absolutely necessary. I especially would try to avoid it on dogs who might be more likely to have a problem due to a coexisting problem. Dogs do not consume sugar like we do nor do they live for many decades like we do. I will treat my dogs teeth strictly on a as needed basis. I do think many dogs have far too much intervention. I do however vaccinate my dogs for just about everything that I can. I am educated and I don't think I am an airhead : )

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks F. I appreciate it. I do keep up on Jack's vaccines or titers. He has never had Lepto though .... We do titer testing and he is still very protected.

I think your perspective is a good one.. I am for less is more too... ( I think) 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

This is just my experience.  Roo does get tartar.  Roo has Addison's disease.  I was a nervous wreck for his dental cleaning.  He did fine.  They sedated him just enough to get the job done.  My vet did not suggest xrays or that he could not do a good job with just light sedation.  I did give Roo a percorten pill the day of the exam to supplement the every 25 day injection.  The vet said it wouldn't hurt and I felt better.  When I picked him up Roo was raring to go, not loggy or foggy like they are after a surgery.

 

Hope this helps a little

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks, Jack does not have heavy tarter.. I think if he did I would be more prone to letting him go under but his regular vet even said he doesn't....but again the heart strings of what if he has a chipped tooth and his nerve is exposed and he is in pain..... 

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

will Jack let you look in his mouth?  I try to check inside their mouths at least once a month to see if anything is cracked.  Cubbie has a chipped tooth that isn't bothering him now but will be extracted in June when he goes in for his annual and a dental cleaning,  If you don't see any cracks and your vet isn't recommending a dental, then I would probably wait.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I can stick my fingers in his mouth.. I do all the time, I just don't know how to examine the teeth. I will see what they say when we go for our four year check up and see what she thinks... 

So you take Cubbie for an annual cleaning? I have never done that before.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I feel bad admitting it because so many people here seem to be against it, but I have had Cubbie's teeth cleaned 3 times and he just turned 4. I brush his teeth almost daily (but at least 5 times a week) and no matter what I do or what products I use, I can't keep them clean.  I keep most of the thick tarter at bay but the back sides of this teeth (the side facing the tongue) are an icky brown color.  I have tried the water additives, the sprays, the gels, the pastes, etc.  Nothing seems to work. I do get a bit nervous with putting him under though.  It is a decision that I have struggled with every year but having his teeth look brown can't be good. 

[BG and Gavin]

Just like people Amy, I believe that some dogs just have poor teeth and of course they will require a lot more maintenance.  Its the sweeping generalizations this dentist is making which make me suspicious that she is out to line her pockets.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I just went for my own dental exam last week.  31 years old and still cavity free. woohoo!  The dentist didn't give me a sticker though because those "are for the kids"  :)

[Jennifer and Jack]

Amy I think in your case you don't have a choice, it is very clear that gum disease can lead to many other health problems and never be afraid to admit anything here, we are all learning and no one has the right answer for every dog.....

I feel like an idiot most of the time because I am forever on here asking questions from Apple cider vinegar to coconut oil to every other thing I hear about.. but I rather look like a fool and learn then to make a mistake... so there..

Molly my mom's dog seems to be following in the footsteps of needing more cleaning as she has already been recommended for it by my mom's vet, though Jack's vet looked at her teeth and said no way would they put her under for such little tarter... Who knows..

I like we can all share our experiences.. I never owned a dog or even loved a dog before Jack so I have so much to learn from people who have been down this road many times... 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Tigger got his teeth cleaned the same day and he did have a tooth chipped down to the nerve - ewh.  I felt terrible, but the only signs he showed was a slight hesitance to chew up his milkbone before breakfast.  The harder dental chews he just chowed down.  Go figure.  Tigger will and does chew and often eat anything.  Vet said could have happened on a rock or just a piece of kibble caught the wrong way.  We'll never know.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jack has always from day one taken any and all food from a hand so gingerly...I mean like a baby could easily and has easily fed him treats....makes me wonder...